Training for Kennedy

Ok. So I'm down in Dion's neck of the woods as I pretty much use STCP as my daily training ride, with multiple trips/laps up/down the hills. I see you guys tackling Kennedy on a regular basis. I realize that Kennedy is ~6m, and while STCP has no long trails, are there any trails in STCP that are similar to kennedy?

For example, if I did X laps of the radio tower climb starting at either the picnic area or the bottom of Bernal, how representative would that be? Or x number of trips up Boundary?

If you want to ride like Dion, one of the things you need to do to emulate his riding at Kennedy is to drop one of your gloves into the port-a-potty and mention it on MTBR.

I can't friggin' believe somebody dug it out!!!!

Seth, just go ride it. Honestly. The worse that can happen is that you stop and take breaks, but there's no shame in that. Just think of Coyote Peak climb going on for a long time. I don't know if you tried Boundary climb at STCP, but there are some steep bastards like that in Kennedy.

Just go give it a try - we'll all go soon and you should hitch on with us. It's not as bad as some people make it out to be unless you're going for Strava times. Like Mr. Crustacean said, it's better to go with a group - because it ain't the most exciting place in the world.

Rode up it no-dabs today, and it was sloppy/smooshy/icky in many places:
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='http://app.strava.com/runs/34842509/embed/5449b05245b98fe30e8a46cc4b86f710e00987b0'></iframe>
Of course I run 26"x3.8" Surly Nate tires, which have overkill traction available.

QUOTE from MTBR.COM: You have given Brewtality too much Reputation in the last 24 hours, try again later.

Seth, just go ride it. Honestly. The worse that can happen is that you stop and take breaks, but there's no shame in that. Just think of Coyote Peak climb going on for a long time. I don't know if you tried Boundary climb at STCP, but there are some steep bastards like that in Kennedy.

Just go give it a try - we'll all go soon and you should hitch on with us. It's not as bad as some people make it out to be unless you're going for Strava times. Like Mr. Crustacean said, it's better to go with a group - because it ain't the most exciting place in the world.

You would be surprised what ends up in the potty. Hash pipes ... watches ... panties ... even a pair of dentures after an untimely sneeze in there. Used almost half a bottle of his water to rinse them off before the ride.

Rode up it no-dabs today, and it was sloppy/smooshy/icky in many places:
<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='http://app.strava.com/runs/34842509/embed/5449b05245b98fe30e8a46cc4b86f710e00987b0'></iframe>
Of course I run 26"x3.8" Surly Nate tires, which have overkill traction available.

The key is to not look up at the Hill of Impending Doom™, and instead just look perhaps 6 feet in front of you, while you chant to yourself, “there is no hill”.

Really good advice. Tree on the left is always a tipping point for me. You can cool the jets for bit before the final grind.. Get there with a bit of gas in the tank and you're home. Also, the line on the left is not always the best option.

I found both today and my last successful no-dabs attempt a few days before on my fatbike that at times riding right up the middle of the loose rocks/yucky stuff is the ideal line. Obviously not recommended on a normal bike.

QUOTE from MTBR.COM: You have given Brewtality too much Reputation in the last 24 hours, try again later.

I mostly went middle line today with no problems. I did however have my rear tire way low on air on purpose. Once you hit that tree, don't relax too much because it sucks to fail at that point after the harder stuff. Go slow and save some energy for the hard climb. I think this winter I have climbed it 4 times with 2 being successful no-dab efforts. Kennedy is hard but has nice rest spots to get Hr and breathing under control. Go ride it and get a base for the feel. Then build off of that.

Climbed Kennedy, went down dogmeat and then went right back up it. It was getting to cold at the top to do much more than that. Everyone was pumped for a dogmeat try anyway. Climbing overgrown (limekiln) then dogmeat is also tough. Dogmeat makes everyone feel like they are dying!